Epistle to the Trallians (LongVersion)

But if, as some who are without God, meaning the unbelieving, say, He became man only in appearance, that He did not actually take a body, that He died merely in appearance and did not truly suffer, then why am I now in chains and eager to face the wild beasts? In this case, I die in vain and am guilty of falsehood against the cross of the Lord. Then the prophet also declares in vain, “They shall look on Him whom they have pierced, and mourn over themselves as over one beloved.” These people, therefore, are no less unbelievers than those who crucified Him.

But as for me, I do not place my hopes in one who died for me in appearance, but in reality. For what is false is entirely opposed to the truth. Mary truly conceived a body with God inhabiting it. And God the Word was truly born of the Virgin, having clothed Himself with a body with passions like ours. He who forms all men in the womb was Himself really in the womb and made for Himself a body from the seed of the Virgin, but without any intercourse of man.

He was carried in the womb, just as we are, for the usual period of time; and was really born, as we also are; and was truly nourished with milk and partook of ordinary food and drink, just as we do. And when He had lived among men for thirty years, He was baptized by John, truly and not in appearance; and when He had preached the Gospel for three years, and done signs and wonders, He who was Himself the Judge was judged by the Jews, falsely so-called, and by Pilate the governor; was scourged, was struck on the cheek, was spat upon; He wore a crown of thorns and a purple robe; He was condemned: He was crucified truly, and not in appearance, not in imagination, not in deceit.

He truly died, was buried, and rose from the dead, just as He prayed in a certain place, saying, “But do You, O Lord, raise me up again, and I shall repay them.” And the Father, who always hears Him, answered and said, “Arise, O God, and judge the earth; for You shall receive all the heathen for Your inheritance.” The Father, therefore, who raised Him up, will also raise us up through Him, apart from whom no one will attain true life.

For He says, “I am the life; he that believes in me, even though he dies, shall live; and everyone that lives and believes in me, even though he dies, shall live forever.” Therefore, flee from these ungodly heresies, for they are the inventions of the devil, that serpent who was the author of evil, and who by means of the woman deceived Adam, the father of our race.